"Very few people have ever been kind to me without expecting anything back. Everyone always thinks they can gain something from me by being nice to me. Then when their motivations are revealed I get angry." And hurt, though he would never say that out loud. Ivar The Boneless didn't get hurt feelings. "But not you." The hand on Alfred's arm moves up, brushing the hair that's fallen into his eyes back.
"You were kind to me only when you knew nothing about me other than I was just some crippled prince that everyone saw as nothing." Perhaps it had first been then that Ivar's heart had begun to be ensnared by his friend.
Alfred doesn’t know why he feels a strange and warm heat at the words. It’s an oddity that having Ivar say them makes him feel... special, special for who he is and not his title or stature in life. He smiles warmly as he looks at Ivar and his fingers itch to reach out and touch him.
“I don’t know how anyone could see you as nothing if they ever looked at you. All they would need to do is meet your eyes,” Alfred says and then swallows before reaching out a gentle hand to cup his cheek as he shifts onto his side, facing Ivar. “You make me feel things I shouldn’t, Ivar,” he murmurs more softly words only for Ivar said in a whisper as if someone could be eavesdropping — and honestly that’s not so far fetched to think about.
"You see things in people that others don't. You see me," Ivar says, breath hitching as he feels Alfred's hand on his cheek. There's no denying that Alfred has grown up very nicely into a good-looking young man. Were it not for his duties and shyness, he could have had anyone at court.
"Perhaps that's what I want you to feel," Ivar murmurs. He leans over and presses a soft kiss to Alfred's mouth before pulling back. He'd love to go further with Alfred, but things need to be taken slow. They've got more than themselves to consider. They've got their people and duties.
Alfred feels the kiss long after Ivar pulled away and he wants to lean forward and kiss him back. His hand is still on his cheek and his thumb stretches out, brushing along the other's bottom lip briefly before pulling his hand away.
He's sure this is exactly the reason his mother was wary of Ivar. She perhaps knew more than Alfred did about himself, about Ivar.
"Why do you want me to feel things that I shouldn't?"
His feelings were difficult, to try and keep it separate from his duties, his responsibility to his people. Ivar is always going to be a dangerous piece of his world but he couldn't seem to bring himself not to trust him.
Ivar's breath comes out hot as he feels the pad of Alfred's thumb brushes over his lip. He knows what he wants and it's right in front of him, no matter how complicated it might make things.
"Forbidden fruit is always the most enticing," he says. He knows a few Bible stories and the one about the banishment from Eden is one of them. One of the few things the Norse and Catholic religions have in common is the perception of the snake as being a devious, dangerous creature that will lead to destruction. The Devil in one form and the Midgard Serpent in the other.
"And that is the temptations we are most meant to resist, Ivar," Alfred says and he's not very good at resisting. He's not sure that this is something that would be wrong even if it frustrated his mother or displeased his court.
He shifts closer on the bed to where they are millimeters from touching and he exhales, looking at Ivar. "Sleep?" he questions, though he doesn't feel like he could with the way that his heart is racing just now.
"Sometimes, it's much more fun to give in," Ivar says with an all-too-wicked grin on his face.
At the question of sleep, he nods. "That would be good." He snakes an arm around Alfred's waist and pulls him close. The warmth he can feel radiating from his own skin and the sensation of Alfred's skin brushing up against his own should make it impossible to sleep. But the sensations are also comforting, especially the feeling of Alfred's breathing. He could get used to this and that thought is a little frightening on its own.
"You would say that," Alfred says with a small smile. He swallows when soon after Ivar's arm slips around him, their bodies close and his heart seems to thunder and he'd almost think that the other could hear it beating in his chest as he lets out a heavy breath. The initial rush at the close contact does simmer down to a thrum that's relaxing, warm.
He leans into him, his hand resting against Ivar's skin, feeling the warmth that's almost too warm to be comfortable. He certainly shouldn't be giving into this... But he nuzzles his head against Ivar's shoulder.
"Good night, Ivar," he murmurs, though he's not sure he'll be sleeping anytime soon.
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"You were kind to me only when you knew nothing about me other than I was just some crippled prince that everyone saw as nothing." Perhaps it had first been then that Ivar's heart had begun to be ensnared by his friend.
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“I don’t know how anyone could see you as nothing if they ever looked at you. All they would need to do is meet your eyes,” Alfred says and then swallows before reaching out a gentle hand to cup his cheek as he shifts onto his side, facing Ivar. “You make me feel things I shouldn’t, Ivar,” he murmurs more softly words only for Ivar said in a whisper as if someone could be eavesdropping — and honestly that’s not so far fetched to think about.
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"Perhaps that's what I want you to feel," Ivar murmurs. He leans over and presses a soft kiss to Alfred's mouth before pulling back. He'd love to go further with Alfred, but things need to be taken slow. They've got more than themselves to consider. They've got their people and duties.
no subject
He's sure this is exactly the reason his mother was wary of Ivar. She perhaps knew more than Alfred did about himself, about Ivar.
"Why do you want me to feel things that I shouldn't?"
His feelings were difficult, to try and keep it separate from his duties, his responsibility to his people. Ivar is always going to be a dangerous piece of his world but he couldn't seem to bring himself not to trust him.
no subject
"Forbidden fruit is always the most enticing," he says. He knows a few Bible stories and the one about the banishment from Eden is one of them. One of the few things the Norse and Catholic religions have in common is the perception of the snake as being a devious, dangerous creature that will lead to destruction. The Devil in one form and the Midgard Serpent in the other.
no subject
He shifts closer on the bed to where they are millimeters from touching and he exhales, looking at Ivar. "Sleep?" he questions, though he doesn't feel like he could with the way that his heart is racing just now.
no subject
At the question of sleep, he nods. "That would be good." He snakes an arm around Alfred's waist and pulls him close. The warmth he can feel radiating from his own skin and the sensation of Alfred's skin brushing up against his own should make it impossible to sleep. But the sensations are also comforting, especially the feeling of Alfred's breathing. He could get used to this and that thought is a little frightening on its own.
no subject
He leans into him, his hand resting against Ivar's skin, feeling the warmth that's almost too warm to be comfortable. He certainly shouldn't be giving into this... But he nuzzles his head against Ivar's shoulder.
"Good night, Ivar," he murmurs, though he's not sure he'll be sleeping anytime soon.